Eruca vesicaria sativa

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Eruca vesicaria
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:7
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:2'
Width:1'
Speed:Fast
Blooms:Late Spring-Late Summer
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Eruca vesicaria sativa (common name: rocket)

Propagation: Seed - sow outdoors in spring in situ. Germination is usually very quick and free. In order to obtain a continuous supply of edible leaves, successional sowings can be made every few weeks until mid August[1]. A late summer/early autumn sowing can provide leaves in winter, though the plants might require some protection in very cold winters[2].

Cultivation: A very easily grown and fast-maturing plant, it succeeds in most soils and conditions, though it prefers some shade in summer[3]. Once established, plants are quite drought resistant[4].

Rocket is occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves and flowers, it can be ready for harvest within 40 days of sowing the seed[5][6][7][8], there are some named varieties. 'Rocket Improved' is less prone to bolting, though it still grows best in cooler weather[9].

Plants usually self-sow freely if the ground is disturbed in some way, such as by hoeing[K].

This species is normally untroubled by pests or diseases[4].

Range: Europe - Mediterranean. A frequent casual in Britain, occasionally becoming established for a while.

Habitat: Waste ground, fields, olive groves, stony hills, tracksides etc[7].

Edibility: Young leaves - raw or cooked[10][11][1][12][13]. A distinct strongly spicy flavour[9], the taste is best from fast, well-grown plants[2]. A few leaves added to a salad are acceptable though the flavour is too strong for many tastes[K]. Some people really like these leaves though most are not very keen[K]. Older leaves that have become too hot to eat on their own can be pureed and added to soups etc[9]. In the milder areas of Britain it is possible to produce edible leaves all year round from successional sowings, especially if the winter crop is given some protection[K].

Flowers - raw[52}. A similar taste to the leaves, they make a nice garnish on the salad bowl[9].

The seed yields a semi-drying oil[5][10][13] which is edible if stored 6 months[14][15] and is a substitute for rapeseed oil[12]. It contains 32% fat, 27% protein[15]. It is known as 'jamba oil'[9].

A mustard is obtained from the seed[6][13][9], the strong flavour comes from an essential oil that is contained within the oil of the seed[15]. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard[16].

Medicinal: Rocket was at one time used medicinally, though it is now used only as a salad herb[16]. The leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant and stomachic[17][6].

The seed is rubefacient and stimulant[17][6]. The powdered seed possesses antibacterial activity, but no alkaloids have been isolated[18].

The oil from the seed is said to have aphrodisiac properties[8].

Usage: The seed yields a semi-drying oil which is a substitute for rapeseed oil[6]. It can also be used for lighting, burning with very little soot[15].

Pollinators: Insects

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Wind: Tolerates strong winds

In Leaf: Evergreen

Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Also Known As: E. sativa. Mill. E. vesicaria. Brassica eruca.

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. ↑ Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Vegetables. Macmillan Reference Books, 1995.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  11. ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Nicholson, Barbara and Stephen Harrison. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press, 1975.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
  14. ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Chakravarty, Hiralal. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. 1976.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  18. ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.


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